FIPS-Africa establishes 240 cassava multiplication sites in Eastern Kenya
23 February 2011

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In December 2010, FIPS-Africa purchased 120,000 cuttings of four new and improved varieties of cassava from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute's (KARI) Kiboko Research Centre. The cutting are being used to establish 240 secondary multiplication sites at village level in Nzaui, Machakos, Kilungu, Mbooni, Kibwezi and Mbeere districts, in Kenya's Eastern Province.

Multiplication sites were chosen which have access to water to ensure good establishment of the cuttings. From these sites, cuttings will be disseminated to smallholder farmers through FIPS-Africa's networks of village-based agricultural advisors. It is anticipated that this campaign will have a major impact on food security in this semi-arid region.

Cassava is arguably the most important food security crop in Eastern Province. It survives periods of drought, grows well in poor soils and performs better than cereal crops. Over the past 10 years, however, cassava has been devastated by cassava mosaic virus. Most farmers have stopped planting the local varieties, which are highly susceptible to the disease.

To address this problem, breeders at KARI's Katumani Research Centre developed the new high-yielding, early-maturing varieties of cassava, which are resistant to the virus.

This work was conducted with the support of KARI, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Research into Use Programme.